Astro Journals

Editor-in-Chief Sue Yom hosts Dr. Karin Lindberg, a Clinical Oncologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the supervising author of a new paper this month, "Expanded HILUS trial - a pooled analysis of risk factors for toxicity from SBRT of central and ultra-central lung tumors," and Dr. David Palma, a Radiation Oncologist at the London Health Sciences Centre who co-authored the accompanying editorial, "Beyond the HILUS Trial: How Can We Improve the Safety of SABR for Ultra-Central Thoracic Tumors?" Dr. Palma also describes the design and findings of the new clinical trial SUNSET, which he presented in the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancer Symposium plenary session simultaneously with this podcast release.

Editor-in-Chief Sue Yom co-hosts with Dr. Jean Wright, Breast Section Editor and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Director of the radiation oncology Breast Cancer Program at Johns Hopkins University. Joining is Dr. Juliane Hörner-Rieber, Managing Senior Physician and Associate Professor at the Department of Radiation Oncology of Heidelberg University Hospital, who was supervising author of an article published this month, "Non-inferiority of Local Control and Comparable Toxicity of Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy With Simultaneous Integrated Boost in Breast Cancer: 5-year Results of the IMRT-MC2 Phase III Trial." Also joining is is Dr. Danielle Rodin, Associate Section Editor, radiation oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, who first-authored our Oncology Scan this month, "The Internal Mammary Node Irradiation Debate in Node-Positive Breast Cancer: Case Closed."

Editor-in-Chief, Robert Amdur, MD, explains how radiation oncologists are using ChatGPT and other Large Language Model programs in clinical practice. The discussion is based on a paper published in the November/December 2023 issue of PRO titled "Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT, Artificial Intelligence, and Large Language Models: Practical Suggestions for Radiation Oncologists" (2023, Issue 6, November/December, PMID: 37598727).

Dr. Sue Yom hosts Dr. Charles "Chuck" Mayo, Professor and Director of Radiation Oncology Informatics and Analytics at the University of Michigan and first author of an article in this month's issue, Operational Ontology for Oncology (O3) – A Professional Society-Based, Multi-Stakeholder, Consensus-Driven Informatics Standard Supporting Clinical and Research Use of "Real-World" Data from Patients Treated for Cancer, and Dr. Ying Xiao, Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania and supervising author of this same article, who also issued an accompanying explanatory editorial. Our group discusses the status and potential of oncology data standardization and its practical implementation through O3.

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sue Yom is joined this month by co-host Dr. Danielle Margalit, the Red Journal's Head and Neck Section Editor and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School. Guests are Dr. Adam Garden, Professor of Radiation Oncology at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, who is the first author of an article in this month's issue, "Final Report of NRG Oncology RTOG 0022: A Phase 1/2 Study of Conformal and Intensity Modulated Radiation for Oropharyngeal Cancer"; Dr. Michelle Echevarria, Assistant Member in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center and first author of another article printing this month, "Phase 1 Dose Escalation of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Concurrent Cisplatin for Reirradiation of Unresectable, Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck"; and Dr. Robert Chin, Associate Professor at UCLA Radiation Oncology and supervising author of a third article in the October issue, "High Recurrence for HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer Wi

Practical Radiation Oncology associate editor Louis Potters, MD, of Northwell Health hosts a conversation on Treatment of Oligometastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: An ASTRO/ESTRO Clinical Practice Guideline. Two of the authors, Puneeth Iyengar MD, PhD of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Matthias Guckenberger MD of the University Hospital Zurich, along with patient advocate Jill Feldman discuss the framework for the treatment of oligo-mets of lung cancer.

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sue Yom hosts a discussion this month on audiovisual technology in the service of patients, along with Pediatrics/Sarcoma Section Editor Dr. Ralph Ermoian, Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Joining the discussion are Dr. Susan Hiniker, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Stanford University, who is the supervising author of an article in this month’s issue, Feasibility of the Audio-Visual Assisted Therapeutic Ambience in Radiotherapy (AVATAR) System for Anesthesia Avoidance in Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter Trial. We also welcome Dr. Jee Suk Chang, Assistant Professor at Yonsei University in Korea, currently on sabbatical at BC Cancer in Vancouver, who is (co) first author on an article in press that has just issued online, An Investigation of the Impact of Virtual Reality on Alleviating Anxiety in Patients with Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sue Yom hosts a discussion this month on the role of radiotherapy in the optimal treatment of recurrent and refractory lymphoma. Guests include Dr. Belinda Campbell, the journal’s Section Editor of lymphoma and hematologic malignancies, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at The University of Melbourne, and Deputy Director of Radiotherapy at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. We are joined by Dr. Mario Levis, Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncology from the University of Turin and first author of a paper in this month’s issue, Peri-transplant radiotherapy in refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplant: long term results of a retrospective study of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi. Our other guest is Dr. Jennifer Peterson, Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic Florida, who is the supervising author of another paper this month, Don’t put the CART before the horse: The role of radiation therapy in peri

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sue Yom and Physics Section and Executive Editor Dr. David Carlson, Professor, Vice Chair, and Director of Medical Physics at Yale University, host a discussion of current research frontiers in particle therapy. Our guests (calling in from PTCOG!) are Dr. Tracy Underwood, Senior Physicist at Leo Cancer Care and one of the supervising authors of Proposing a Clinical Model for RBE Based on Proton Track-End Counts, and Dr. Andrea Mairani, Group Leader of Biophysics at Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center and supervising author of Commissioning of Helium Ion Therapy and the First Patient Treatment With Active Beam Delivery.

Editor-in-Chief, Robert Amdur, MD, discusses radiotherapy dose prescription to positive pelvic or paraaortic nodes when treating a cervix cancer patient with primary chemo-radiotherapy. The discussion is based on a paper published in the May 2023 issue of PRO titled “Management of Radiographically Positive Pelvic and/or Para-aortic Lymph Nodes During Primary Chemoradiation Therapy for Cervix Cancer” (2023, Issue 3, May/June, PMID: 35529239). In this paper, three radiation oncologists with subspecialty experience in GYN oncology summarize relevant studies and then list the dose schedules they currently use.

Practical Radiation Oncology associate section editor Ashley Weiner, MD, PhD, of University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill hosts a conversation on the ASTRO Radiation Therapy Summary of the ASCO Guideline on Management of Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Two of the authors, Charles Simone MD, of the New York Proton Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and George Rodrigues, MD, PhD of the London Health Sciences Center and University of Western Ontario discuss the updated guidelines and review specific questions related to the management of patients with Stage III NSCLC. They focus on the key clinical questions around neoadjuvant therapy, adjuvant therapy, and definitive chemoradiotherapy for Stage III lung cancer with a thorough review of the guidelines and insights into their own clinical expertise in the multidisciplinary management of NSCLC.

Genitourinary Section Editor Alison Tree, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, hosts a discussion this month on genomic classifiers in prostate cancer. Guests are Paul Nguyen, Vice-Chair for Clinical Research and Genitourinary Disease Center Leader at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital's Department of Radiation Oncology and first author of "Analysis of a Biopsy-Based Genomic Classifier in High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Meta-Analysis of the NRG Oncology/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9202, 9413, and 9902 Phase 3 Randomized Trials"; Neil Desai, Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and first author of "Passing the Kool-Aid Point: mRNA Expression-Based Risk Classifiers in Localized Prostate Cancer Treatment Decision Making"; and Simon Spohn, Resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Medical Center Freiburg and first author of "Genomic Classifiers in Personalized Pros

Deputy Editor Dr. Curtiland Deville, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Johns Hopkins University and ASTRO HEDI Council Vice Chair, conducts a discussion this month on diversity and inclusion in professional selection and development. Guests include Dr. Rachel Jimenez, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School, President of the Association for Directors of Radiation Oncology Programs, and first author of an article in this month’s issue, "Using Holistic Residency Applicant Review and Selection in Radiation Oncology to Enhance Diversity and Inclusion-An ASTRO SCAROP-ADROP-ARRO Collaboration"; Dr. Iris Gibbs, ASTRO HEDI Council Chair, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Associate Dean of Admissions at Stanford University School of Medicine, and co-last author for this article with Dr. Deville; Dr. Sophia Kamran, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Massachus

Editor-in-Chief, Robert Amdur, MD, discusses structured formats for delivering bad news to patients. The discussion begins with an explanation of the SPIKES protocol and a recent analysis identifying five behavior practices that enhance physician communication in clinical encounters. The discussion ends with review of a paper published in the May 2023 issue of PRO titled “Serious Illness Communication Training Among Radiation Oncology Residents” (2023, Issue 3, May/June, PMID: 36526246). This paper demonstrates the use of a highly sophisticated education program involving simulated patients, didactic lectures, and independent evaluators to create a structured curriculum to teach and evaluate serious illness communication skills of radiation oncology residents.

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sue Yom hosts a discussion this month on geospatial health disparity analysis and Spanish language equity. Guests include Associate Section Editor Dr. Sara Alcorn, Vice Chair of Clinical Strategy in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Minnesota and the supervising author of Radiotherapy Deserts: Impact of Race, Poverty and the Rural-Urban Continuum on Density of Providers and Utilization of Radiotherapy in the United States. We also host Dr. Idalid “Ivy” Franco, Director of Equity, Access, and Inclusion and Attending Physician in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Mr. Santiago Avila, fourth-year medical student at the University of Chicago, co-first authors of Spanish Adaptation and Evaluation of Clinical Discussion Guides: Communicating the External Beam Radiotherapy Experience (CEBRE) en Español. We additionally welcome Dr. Pilar Ortega, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Accreditation Council for Graduat

Editor-in-Chief, Robert Amdur, MD, discusses an Editorial published in the March 2023 issue of PRO titled “Nailing the Clavicular Head: Assuring Adequate Coverage of the Medial/Inferior Aspect of the Supraclavicular Space in Patients Receiving Regional Nodal Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer” (2023, Issue 2, March/April, PMID: 36748209). This paper compares dose coverage of the nodes behind the clavicular head when elective nodal irradiation is planned with historic 2D landmarks versus contours as directed by three consensus group atlases: RTOG, ECOG, and NRG/RADCOMP. The authors suggest that all three contouring atlases have features that risk underdosing high risk nodes in the supraclavicular area. The Editorial ends with three recommendations to decrease this risk.

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sue Yom hosts a discussion this month on the status of radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) in radiation oncology. Guests include Dr. Jeff Michalski, President of ASTRO and Carlos Perez Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Washington University in St. Louis, and supervising author of an editorial we are publishing this month, "Radiation Oncology and Radiopharmaceuticals: Making our own history while learning from the past – An editorial response." We also host Dr. Paul Wallner, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at GenesisCare USA and first author of another editorial this month, "Radiation Oncologists and Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals: Will History Repeat Itself?" We’ve also invited Dr. Thomas Boike, the US Chief Medical Officer for Theranostics for GenesisCare, to discuss with us the real-world experience of bringing RPT into radiation oncology practices.

Editor-in-Chief, Robert Amdur, MD, discusses two Morbidity and Mortality Conference papers from the March issue of PRO: “Regional Recurrence after Carotid Sparing IMRT for Early Stage Glottic Cancer” (2023 Issue 2, PMID 36089251) and “Pneumothorax Associated with Deep Inspiration Breath Holding During Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer” (2023 Issue 2, PMID 36494031). Both these papers describe unanticipated negative consequences associated with innovative treatment techniques. It is never possible to be absolutely sure of a cause-and-effect relationship in a given situation, but these reports remind us that innovation often comes with risks that are not fully appreciated when they are initially evaluated.

Dr. Sue Yom, our Editor-in-Chief, hosts Dr. Meredith Giuliani, Thoracic Section Editor, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, and Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education at the University of Toronto, practicing at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center; Dr. Sung-Ja Ahn, Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology of Chonnam National University Medical School and corresponding author for our new publication this month, "Randomized, Multicenter, Phase 3 Study of Accelerated Fraction Radiation Therapy With Concomitant Boost to the Gross Tumor Volume Compared With Conventional Fractionation in Concurrent Chemoradiation in Patients With Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Korean Radiation Oncology Group 09-03 Trial"; and Dr. Megan Daly, Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California Davis, Associate Section Editor at our Journal, and supervising author of an article publishing next month, "Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography Ventilation Image

Editor-in-Chief, Robert Amdur, MD, discusses radiation and chemotherapy programs to use prior to surgical resection of rectal cancer. The main reference for the podcast is a Topic Discussion paper published in the January 2023 issue of PRO titled “Neoadjuvant therapy in the post-German rectal trial era: making sense in the absence of consensus” (2023, Issue 1, January/February). The discussion explains the concepts driving the evolution of neoadjuvant therapy, recommended radiotherapy and chemotherapy programs, and situations where it is acceptable to observe without surgery.